looking for info on II resorts in Palm Springs/Palm Desert

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

I would appreciate if anyone could give a short review of the pros and cons of the various Marriotts/Westins.
many thanks!!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I would appreciate if anyone could give a short review of the pros and cons of the various Marriotts/Westins.
many thanks!!

I have stayed there 4-5 times and prefer a TS with a hotel on site.

1. Marriott Desert Springs I & II - http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ings-villas-i/ http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ngs-villas-ii/ On the grounds of JW Marriott Dessert Springs Resort http://www.desertspringsresort.com beautiful hotel with many amenities. On site Golf Course. Nice TS units....DS I has recently been renovated - one of the first MVCI resorts so bigger units - two story buildings, no elevators. DS II - typical MAR configurations. Has shuttle service to take you around this really large resort. When I was staying in Carlsbad with DH, we drove here to have lunch by the pool one day, that is how much we enjoyed it.

2. Westin Mission Hills - http://www.starwoodvacationownership...s/welcome.html - modern units, great bathroom in larger 1BR side - two bedroom units comprise a small and large one bedroom unit so nice if two couples traveling together. On the grounds of Westin Mission Hills Resort http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin...ropertyID=1008 - I have stayed here 2 times and never seemed to have made it to the hotel to hang out! TS pools very nice - also 2 story no elevator buildings, gas grills on each patio. Shuttles available to take you around the resort.

Have stayed at Marriott Shadow Ridge, http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-the-villages/ http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-the-enclaves/
No hotel so fewer food/drink choices. On a golf course. Nice pools. Westin has a new-ish TS resort Westin Desert Willow Villas http://www.starwoodvacationownership...t/welcome.html that I know nothing about.

There are MANY other TS in Palm Springs, I am only familiar with the ones above.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

Thanks Pat! That was exactly the info i was looking for.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I stayed at the Westin, the large 1 bedroom was very luxe and I would stay there again. Also never made it to the hotel side.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

Thanks Glitter : ).

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

DSV-II isn't far from the hotel either but you cannot use the hotel SPA. Not that we care.

We never wanted to stay at the DSV-II but stayed there last year and we really liked it. The units are a bit smaller but have a lot more light and we got a beautiful view with a large pond in front of us. DSV-I and II both are refurbished. The color scheme of II is more bright and the DSV-I is more elegant. JMHO.

The Manager showed me the units and I took pictures of everything. They both look very nice and we love the area. Spring and Fall are lovely times to go. It is cool in the winter and way too hot in the summer. We would go in the winter too but expect snow on the surrounding mountains and very cold at night. It was even snowing at Joshua Tree National Park and bitter cold and that was on my birthday in March.

I posted some pictures on TUG, I believe or I will try to find my albums on Smugmug and post the color scheme here. For us, the view is most important so we are not fussy nor is the kitchen important to us.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

DSV-II isn't far from the hotel either but you cannot use the hotel SPA. Not that we care.

.

DSV-I no longer has free day use of the spa, they lost that privilege about 18 months ago.
Still is a nice way to spend the day even with the fee or free use when u book a treatment.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

DSV-I no longer has free day use of the spa, they lost that privilege about 18 months ago.
Still is a nice way to spend the day even with the fee or free use when u book a treatment.

I believe that changed back this Jan 2013. However, I believe usage is limited to during the week and not weekends. I'm not exactly sure on the details but remember reading that

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I believe that changed back this Jan 2013. However, I believe usage is limited to during the week and not weekends. I'm not exactly sure on the details but remember reading that

That would be great.....

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

...We would go in the winter too but expect snow on the surrounding mountains and very cold at night...

We visit the Palm Springs area for 3 nights every month all year around. The winter weather is pretty nice. Yes, there will be some snow in the mountains but that is at over 8,000'. The Palm Springs area has the warmest winter weather of any place in the SW United States. We were there at New Years and there was very little snow in the mountains by Palm Springs. The snow is actually quite nice to look at. It is cool at night but not very cold. The days are typically sunny and warm.

We have also stayed in 3 different timeshares several times. We stayed at the The Plaza Resort and Spa, Vista Mirage, and Desert Breezes. It has been a few years since we have stayed in the timeshares so I can't recommend them and they certainly are not as elegant as the Marriott's.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I thought I had heard and read that guests staying at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas I no longer had pool privledges at the Marriott Hotel next door. Well we are here right now and I confirmed that they are allowing DSV I guests free pool access at the Marriott hotel next door during the week and DSV II guests pay $10.

If staying at DSV I, is there free access to the JW Spa facilities?

DSV I agreement with the JW was reinstated beginning January of this year. It a very lucrative agreement for the JW with garanteed increases well above inflation for the next 5 years.

The agreement was a 10% increase over the previous agreement but usage was cut 28% because it no longer includes Saturday and Sunday.

The agreement is for Monday through Friday only.

Yes but only Monday through Friday.

Happymum, this would make me lean toward booking at DSV-I

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Djyamyam is right. They have a new contract but different from before. You can play tennis too.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

Thanks everyone! I'll let you know which one we end up with.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I'm late to the thread, but I've stayed at the Westin, and really enjoued it. We used the spa, and ate at the restaurant a few times. DH also enjoyed the golf course......I'd try and stay at either the Westin, or DVS-1.

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

DVS-1 it is, checking in on Black Friday : ).